(This story has been updated to reflect comments and details provided by Toyota.)

For the second time in recent years, Toyota has taken the unusual step of halting sales of almost its entire U.S. line-up due to a potential safety defect – however the maker says it currently does not plan to recall vehicles it has already sold.

That could change, however, if federal regulators decide a recall is warranted, a move now under study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It remains to be seen how the public will view the latest problem which occurs almost exactly four years after the Japanese giant briefly halted sales of a variety of vehicles due to potential problems with so-called unintended acceleration.

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Today’s announcement covers such high-volume models as the Toyota Camry and Corolla sedans, as well as the Sienna minivan, and Tacoma and Tundra pickups. Also impacted are the full-size Avalon sedan and Avalon and Camry Hybrids. Only vehicles equipped with electric seat heaters are covered by the stop-sale announcement because they were manufactured with materials that did not meet flame-retardant standards.